Syringe accessory

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, the accessory ( 1 ) comprises a body ( 15 ) of roughly semi-tubular shape, first means of holding the syringe comprising a distal transverse wall ( 20 ) connected to one end of said body ( 15 ), and pierced with a hole ( 22 ) for the passage of the needle ( 7 ) through it, and second means of holding the syringe comprising a bearing zone ( 61 ) against which the proximal flange ( 10 ) or the lateral lugs that the syringe body ( 5 ) comprises is or are intended to bear so as to provide support for the user&#39;s fingers; the distance between said distal transverse wall ( 20 ) and said bearing zone ( 61 ) is such that the adapter ( 8 ) connecting the needle ( 7 ) to the syringe body ( 5 ) is kept bearing against said distal transverse wall ( 20 ) when said flange ( 10 ) or said lateral lugs are bearing against said bearing zone ( 61 ).

The present invention relates to an accessory for a syringe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In certain cases, an injection performed using a syringe has the effectof generating longitudinal stress in the needle at the time ofinjection. There is a risk that this stress will cause the needle and/orits connecting adapter to separate from the syringe body during theinjection. This is particular the case when it is necessary to inject aviscous product.

A screw connection known as a “luer-lock” connection partially solvesthis problem but is not in any way capable of preventing the needle frombecoming unscrewed under said stress. Such unscrewing, even partial, maycause lesions in the surrounding tissue, as much as a result of theinjection of the product as of the unwanted movement of the needle,particularly when this needle is curved or bent. This problem arisesparticularly in the field of ophthalmic surgery, in which viscousproducts and curved needles are used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There does exist an accessory for a syringe particularly used inophthalmic surgery, comprising a tubular element, a nut and a retainingring. The tubular element is intended internally to accommodate asyringe body and forms a distal external screw thread. The nut has abottom pierced with a hole and is intended to be fitted over the needleby virtue of this hole, then to be screwed onto the screw thread of thetubular element until its bottom bears against the needle connectingadapter, thus retaining the needle with respect to the syringe body. Theretaining ring, for its part, holds the syringe body in the tubularelement.

The disadvantage of this accessory is that it makes it possible for theneedle to become damaged or contaminated while the nut is being fitted.In addition, it has a relatively complex structure and entailspreloading the syringe in the tubular element, something which isrelatively tricky to do, and is not without influence on the cost of itsmanufacture and of its use.

The object of the invention is to remedy these disadvantages. of theinvention

The accessory to which the invention relates comprises, in a way knownper se, a body, first holding means bearing against the needle of thesyringe or against the adapter that connects this needle to thissyringe, and second holding means bearing against the syringe body,these first and second holding means allowing the needle to be held onthe syringe body when stress is exerted on the needle in thelongitudinal direction of the syringe at the time of injection, with atendency to separate the needle from the syringe body.

According to the invention,

-   -   the body of the accessory is of roughly semi-tubular shape;    -   said first holding means comprise a distal transverse wall        connected to one end of said body and pierced with a hole for        the passage of the needle through it, and    -   said second holding means comprise a bearing zone against which        the proximal end of the syringe body is intended to bear,    -    the distance between said distal transverse wall and said        bearing zone being such that the adapter connecting the needle        to the syringe body is kept bearing against said distal        transverse wall when the syringe body bears against said bearing        zone.

On account of its shape, the body of the accessory allows quick and easyengagement of the syringe into it, and said distal transverse walleliminates the engaging of a nut over the needle, and therefore the riskof damaging or contaminating this needle during this engagement. Inaddition and furthermore, the bearing of the connecting adapter againstsaid distal transverse wall generates friction between this adapter andthis wall, and this is able to prevent the needle from pivoting when thelatter is connected to the syringe body by a screwed connection,particularly of the “leur-lock” type, under said longitudinal stress.

As a preference, the body of the accessory consists in a semi-tube.

As a preference, the accessory comprises at least one means allowing theneedle adapter to be prevented from rotating with respect to the body ofthe accessory.

This prevention of rotation makes it possible to fix the needle adapterin terms of rotation when this adapter is connected to the syringe bodyby a screw connection, particularly of the “leur-lock” type.

This rotation-preventing means may in particular be in the form of atleast one tooth projecting from said distal transverse wall and/or of arim contiguous therewith, which is intended to collaborate with at leastone rib that the adapter for connecting the needle to the syringe bodyoften has.

When the accessory comprises several of these teeth, the teeth may inparticular be arranged around the hole that said distal transverse wallcomprises for allowing the passage of the needle, in a radial directionwith respect to this hole.

As an alternative to these rotation-prevention means, or in addition tothem, the adapter may have a more or less conical or cylindro-conicalshape and be intended to be jammed into said hole in said transversewall.

The accessory is advantageously made as a single piece, particularly bymolding in a synthetic material.

It may thus be manufactured at a low cost price.

Advantageously, said body of the accessory is made in two parts, one ofwhich comprises said distal transverse wall and the other of whichcomprises said bearing zone, these two parts being connected to oneanother by an elastic zone that can be stretched in the longitudinaldirection of the accessory.

This elastic zone allows the accessory to be fitted to syringe bodies ofdifferent lengths or to suit the manufacturing or assembly tolerancesthat syringe bodies of standard length assembled with a needle mayexhibit.

Said elastic zone may in particular comprise at least one curved,perforated, undulating or helicoid portion connecting said parts of thebody of the accessory.

As a preference, the aforementioned hole that said distal transversewall comprises for the passage of the needle opens to the outside ofthis wall via at least one slot, this slot allowing the needle to beengaged in said hole laterally.

This engagement is thus easy and able to preserve the integrity of thedistal end of the needle. It can be performed at the same time as thesyringe body is engaged in said body of the accessory, in the sameaction.

Said bearing zone of the proximal end of the syringe body may be shapedto form a stop allowing the piston plunger to slide, but lying in thereturn path of the piston of the syringe or part of the piston plunger.

The accessory thus prevents the piston from leaving the syringe body.

Said bearing zone may be delimited by at least proximal transverse wallthat it has. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, inthis case, the accessory comprises two roughly parallel proximaltransverse walls offset in the longitudinal direction and which betweenthem delimit a housing for accommodating the proximal flange or proximallateral tabs that the body of the syringe might have.

This housing may be tailored to said proximal flange or these proximallateral tabs so as to mount the accessory on the syringe throughfriction.

This housing preferably opens laterally in roughly the same direction asthe direction in which said hole for the passage of the needlecommunicates with the outside of the accessory via said slot.

It is thus easier to engage the syringe in the accessory.

Alternatively or in addition, the accessory may be mounted on thesyringe by snap-fitting the syringe into the accessory, the lattercomprising means for that purpose.

The accessory may also comprise a connecting wall which, at its facefacing toward the distal transverse wall intended to accommodate theadapter for connecting the needle, forms lateral surfaces on each sideof the body of the accessory, these lateral surfaces being intended toaccommodate the user's fingers and being shaped ergonomically for thatpurpose.

The body of the accessory may have two longitudinal edges delimiting thehousing that accommodates the syringe body, these edges having shapeswhich taper toward their free edges in order to facilitate use of theaccessory in combination with the syringe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a good understanding thereof, the invention is described once againhereinbelow with reference to the appended schematic drawing which, byway of nonlimiting example, depicts one preferred embodiment of theaccessory for a syringe to which it relates.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, after a syringe has been fitted onit;

FIG. 3 is a partial view thereof, in perspective and on a larger scale,and

FIGS. 4 to 6 are side views of various alternative forms of embodimentof the accessory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The parts or elements of the accessory shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, which arefound again identically or similarly in the various alternative forms ofembodiment will be referenced with the same numerical references andwill not be described again.

FIG. 1 depicts an accessory 1 for a syringe and FIG. 2 depicts a syringe2 fitted into this accessory 1.

This syringe 2, particularly intended to be used in the field ofophthalmic surgery, is of conventional type, comprising a syringe body5, a piston actuated by a plunger 6, a needle 7 and an adapter 8 forconnecting the needle 7 to the syringe body 5.

The latter comprises a proximal flange 10 and, at the opposite end tothis flange 10, a distal adapter, not visible in the figures, forconnecting the adapter 8 to the needle 7.

The needle 7 is bent in the example depicted, as may be used in thefield of ophthalmic surgery.

The connecting adapter 8 has a more or less conical or cylindro-conicalshape and comprises ribs (not visible in FIG. 2) protruding from itswall at its distal end. In the example depicted, it collaborates with anut 11, of the “luer-lock” type, allowing the adapter 8 to be connectedto the syringe body 5 by screwing the adapter 8 into this nut 11.

With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the accessory 1 comprisesa body 15 made in two parts 16, 17 joined together by an elastic zone 18which can be stretched elastically.

The body 15 has a semi-cylindrical shape and is shaped to enveloppractically half of the syringe body 5. It has two longitudinal edges 19delimiting the housing that accommodates the syringe body 5, these edges19 having shapes which taper toward their free edges so as to make theaccessory with the syringe easier for the user (surgeon) to use.

The part 16 has a distal transverse wall 20, bordered by asemi-peripheral lateral rim 21, in which a hole 22 is made for thepassage of the needle 7. In the example depicted, this hole 22 is sizedto accommodate the distal end of the adapter 8 so that the latter isjammed in, bearing in mind the somewhat conical shape of this adapter 8.

In the example depicted, the hole 22 communicates with the outside ofthe accessory 1 via a slot 25 allowing the needle 7 to be engagedthrough it, laterally with respect to the accessory 1, when the syringe2 is being fitted into the accessory 1.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the distal transverse wall 20 and therim 21 comprise teeth 26 projecting from its proximal face, arrangedaround the hole 22 in a radial orientation with respect to this hole 22.These teeth 26 are intended to collaborate with the aforementioned ribsthat the adapter 8 has.

The part 17 comprises two roughly parallel proximal transverse walls 30,31 which are offset in the longitudinal direction of the accessory 1,and possibly two stiffening partitions 32. The walls 30, 31 togetherform a bearing zone 61 and between them delimit a housing 33 intended toaccommodate the flange 10, and have two notches 34 respectivelyaccommodating the tubular part of the syringe body 5 and the pistonplunger 6, as shown in FIG. 2. These notches 34 are directed roughly inthe same direction as the slot 25.

At the entries to these notches 34, the walls 30, 31 are flared, so asto make it easier for the proximal part of the syringe 2, the pistonplunger 6 and, in particular, the flange 10, to be engaged in thehousing 33. In the case of the use of a “carpule” instead of a syringe,these same proximal transverse walls 30 and 31 make it easier for justthe proximal end of the body of the carpule and for the piston plungerto enter.

A connecting wall 60 may also have lateral surfaces 35, on each side ofthe body 15 of the accessory 1. These surfaces 35 are intended toreceive the user's fingers and are shaped ergonomically for thatpurpose.

The part 17 also comprises two parallel longitudinal walls 36 contiguousto the connecting wall 60, which extend the edges of the body 15. Atleast one of these walls comprises at least one rib 37 for snap-fittingthe syringe body 5 into this body 15.

The elastic zone 18 comprises two curved portions 40 the complex facesof which face toward the outside of the accessory 1. These curvedportions 40 allow the accessory 1 to be adapted either to suit syringebodies 5 of different lengths or to suit the manufacturing tolerancesthat may be exhibited by syringe bodies 5 of standard length, and theassembly of a needle 7/adapter 8 with a syringe body 5 placed in theaccessory 1.

FIGS. 4 to 6 respectively show that the elastic zone 18 may be formed byperforations 41 formed in the body 15 or that it may have undulatingportions 40 or a semi-helicoid portion 40.

It is evident from the foregoing that the invention affords a definiteimprovement to the prior art, by providing an accessory for a syringewhich does not expose the needle to a risk of damage or contaminationduring its use, and which has a structure which is simple andinexpensive to manufacture, which does not entail the manufacturer or athird-party pre-loading the syringe into the accessory.

It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to the formof embodiment described hereinabove by way of example but that, on thecontrary, it encompasses all alternative forms of embodiment thereofwhich are covered by the claims attached hereto; thus, the productcontained in the syringe may not be viscous, the needle may not becurved, the needle may not be connected by a “leur-lock” connection, theaccessory may accommodate either empty or pre-filled syringes, the hole22 may communicate with the outside of the accessory 1 via one or moreslots 25; the term syringe is to be understood in the broadest sense asincluding similar containers commonly known as “carpules” or“cartridges”, that is to say with bodies 5 with no flange 10 or withjust a rim, comprising a piston for driving the liquid contained in saidbody.

The field of application of the present invention is not restricted tothat of ophthalmic surgery, but may be extended to cover many otherfields of medicine such as that of dental care with the use of ananesthetic, etc.

1. An accessory (1) for a syringe (2), comprising a body (15), firstholding means bearing against the needle (7) of the syringe or againstthe adapter (8) that connects this needle (7) to this syringe (2), andsecond holding means (61) bearing against the syringe body (5), thesefirst and second holding means (20, 61) allowing the needle (7) to beheld on the syringe body (5) when stress is exerted on the needle (7) inthe longitudinal direction of the syringe (2) at the time of injection,with a tendency to separate the needle (7) from the syringe body (5);wherein: said body (15) is of roughly semi-tubular shape; said firstholding means comprise a distal transverse wall (20) connected to oneend of said body (15) and pierced with a hole (22) for the passage ofthe needle (7) through it, and said second holding means comprise abearing zone (61) against which the proximal end of the syringe body (5)is intended to bear, the distance between said distal transverse wall(20) and said bearing zone (61) being such that the adapter (8)connecting the needle (7) to the syringe body (5) is kept bearingagainst said distal transverse wall (20) when the syringe body (5) bearsagainst said bearing zone (61).
 2. The accessory (1) as claimed in claim1, and which comprises at least one means (26) allowing the connectingadapter (8) to be prevented from rotating with respect to the body (15)of the accessory.
 3. The accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidrotation-preventing means is in the form of at least one tooth (26)projecting from said distal transverse wall (20) and/or of a rim (21)contiguous therewith.
 4. The accessory (1) as claimed in claim 3, andwhich comprises several teeth (26) and wherein the teeth (26) arearranged around the hole (22) that said distal transverse wall (20)comprises for allowing the passage of the needle (7), in a radialdirection with respect to this hole (22).
 5. The accessory (1) asclaimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adapter (8) connecting theneedle (7) to the syringe body (5) has a more or less conical orcylindro-conical shape and is intended to be jammed into said hole (22)in the distal transverse wall (20).
 6. The accessory (1) as claimed inone of claims 1 to 5, and which is made as a single piece, particularlyby molding in a synthetic material.
 7. The accessory (1) as claimed inone of claims 1 to 6, and of which the body (15) is made in two parts(16, 17), one of which comprises said transverse wall (20) and the otherof which comprises said bearing zone (31), these two parts (16, 17)being connected to one another by an elastic zone (18) that can bestretched in the longitudinal direction of the accessory (1).
 8. Theaccessory (1) claimed in claim 7, wherein said elastic zone (18)comprises at least one curved, perforated, undulating or helicoidportion (40) connecting said parts (16, 17) of the body of the accessory(1).
 9. The accessory (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, whereinthe hole (22) that said distal transverse wall (20) comprises for thepassage of the needle (7) opens to the outside of this wall via at leastone slot (25), this slot (25) allowing the needle (7) to be engaged inthe hole (22) laterally.
 10. The accessory (1) as claimed in one ofclaims 1 to 9, wherein said bearing zone (61) is shaped to form a stopallowing the piston plunger (6) to slide but lying in the return path ofthe piston of the syringe (2) or part of the piston plunger.
 11. Theaccessory (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said bearingzone (61) is delimited by at least one proximal transverse wall (31)that it has.
 12. The accessory (1) as claimed in claim 11, and whichcomprises two roughly parallel proximal transverse walls (30, 31) offsetin the longitudinal direction and which between them delimit a housing(33) for accommodating the proximal flange (10) or proximal lateral tabsthat the body (5) of the syringe (2) might have.
 13. The accessory (1)as claimed in claim 12, wherein said housing (33) is tailored to saidproximal flange (10) or said proximal lateral tabs.
 14. The accessory(1) as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said housing (33) openslaterally in roughly the same direction as the direction in which saidhole (22) for the passage of the needle (7) communicates with theoutside of the accessory (1) via said slot (25).
 15. The accessory (1)as claimed in one of claims 1 to 14, and which comprises means forsnap-fastening the syringe into it.
 16. The accessory (1) as claimed inone of claims 1 to 15, and which comprises a connecting wall (60) which,at its face facing toward the transverse wall intended to accommodatethe adapter (8) for connecting the needle, forms lateral surfaces oneach side of the body (15) of the accessory (1), these lateral surfaces(35) being intended to accommodate the user's fingers and being shapedergonomically for that purpose.
 17. The accessory (1) as claimed in oneof claims 1 to 16, and of which the body (15) has two longitudinal edges(19) delimiting the housing that accommodates the syringe body (5),these edges (19) having shapes which taper toward their free edges. 18.The accessory (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 17, and which isdesigned for a container of the “carpule” or “cartridge” type.
 19. Theaccessory (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterizedin that said body (15) consists in a semi-tube.